About the job

Job summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

Department    NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE
Post Vacant    SEO - Financial Accountant
Location   Belfast or London
Duration    Two year loan or Fixed Term Appointment with the possibility of a third
Salary    Salary scale: 
Inner London - £45,824 – £50,039 
National          - £39,868 – £43,585
Closing Date     31st July 2024

Who we are

Inclusion and diversity

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences.

We particularly welcome applications from Minority Ethnic (ME) candidates, as they are under-represented within the NIO at this level.

The Northern Ireland Office strives to be an inclusive employer and is recognised by its staff and externally as being an employer where Diversity and Inclusion are valued.

We hold a Diversity & Inclusion Charter Mark and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader organisation.

In March 2018 we won the award for Best Employer for Diversity & Equality in Northern Ireland (small employer category) in a Gala Award ceremony hosted by Legal-Island, a multi-award winning workplace compliance company based in Northern Ireland.

We have an active D&I network supporting colleagues through D&I Advocates, championed by our Directors.

We want all our people to feel valued for who they are and we are confident that you will find the NIO a warm, welcoming and inclusive place to work.

What we do

Background

The Northern Ireland Office represents Northern Ireland interests at a UK Government level and UK Government interests in Northern Ireland.  We have a wide range of responsibilities, including: underpinning political stability in Northern Ireland; overseeing the Northern Ireland devolution settlement; leading on national security policy in Northern Ireland; addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past; delivering elections and constitutional reform in Northern Ireland; playing a key role in rebalancing the NI economy; representing NI interests, including on the border with Ireland, as the UK exits the EU.  Our small size and diverse portfolio create a stimulating, fast-paced and challenging working environment, with regular engagement with a range of Ministers and senior officials.  We support flexible working and have a modern, flexible IT system which helps enable this.

About the Role:

The Northern Ireland Office is seeking to recruit a Financial Accountant to sit within the Financial Accounts and Reporting team. The Finance Accounts and Reporting Team lead on all statutory financial requirements within the NIO, and support a number of the NIO’s Arms Lengths Bodies (ALBs). Additionally the Finance team are leading a transformation programme to better deliver our finances and maximise value to the business. This transformation will put finance at the heart of business decision making, driving greater understanding, control and value for money across the organisation. This role will support the transformation through the review, design and implementation of new financial systems, processes and controls supporting statutory requirements and that ability for the business to draw upon accurate financial data to facilitate decision making.

The role will be responsible for the key element of the Financial Account processes reporting to the Head of Financial Reporting and Accounting. The successful candidate will take on key responsibilities as part of the production of the annual reports and accounts, support the provision of financial schedules to support year end audit. The role will lead on the NIO’s input into the whole of Government Accounts (WGA) and provide support to the forecasting of the department’s cash position and managing it within budgetary limits, oversight of VAT and providing wider financial support & advice across the organisation.

The post is based within the Corporate Operations Group in the Northern Ireland Office, a high performing and responsive team that provides high standards of corporate services to support the delivery of the NIO’s objectives and deliver Ministerial priorities.

Key Accountabilities:             

• Support the production of financial statements including notes to the accounts, commissioning and collating information required for the accounts
• Lead elements of HMT and Cabinet Office reporting, while providing support to the accounts team for key functions including banking, and VAT. 
• Lead the production of the NIO’s Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) submission.
• Support the Head of the Financial Accounts Team on the relationship with National Audit Office and external auditors during external audit of the ARA, ensuring a good working relationship, excellent communication and delivery of on-time and accurate financial and other information
• Liaising with colleagues throughout the department to obtain audit evidence, including review to ensure the quality and ease of use of the evidence provided to the NAO
• Providing technical accounting advice, acting as subject matter expert on the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), Managing Public Money, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance and Cabinet Office spending controls
• Support the NIO’s relationship with AccountNI, the provider of the NIO accounting system.
• Supporting the continuous improvement of business and financial control processes and helping build and develop financial capability and professionalism both inside the function and across the business.

Essential Criteria:

1. Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCAB or CIMA.
2. Demonstrable experience of design and implementation of new financial processes and controls.
3. Experience of building positive and effective working relationships across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and having a credible impact with senior colleagues.
4. Demonstrable experience of supporting the delivery of the annual accounts production process.

Desirable Criteria:

1. Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland) or Working towards qualification. Experience of building positive and effective working relationships across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and having a credible impact with senior colleagues.
2. Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to comprehend complex technical information and distil it into a format that is widely understandable.
   
   

Please Note: please upload a suitability statement of no more than 1000 words setting out how you meet the essential and any applicable desirable criteria.

Behaviours:

We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and influencing

More information on Behaviours and Success Profiles can be found here.

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviours and experience, and technical knowledge.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to submit a CV and personal statement of suitability. Your personal statement of suitability (maximum 1000 words) should outline how you meet the essential/desirable criteria.

Applications will be sifted on CV and Statement of Suitability.
The interview will consist of behaviour and technical skills questions.

SECURITY CLEARANCE    Security clearance to SC level is required for this post.
ELIGIBILITY SIFT    An eligibility sift will be carried out on the basis of the information contained in the application form.  It is therefore important that all applicants demonstrate in their application how and to what extent their behaviours are relevant to the above criteria. Those candidates who do not clearly demonstrate that they meet the experience and behaviours will not be invited to interview.
PAY AND ALLOWANCES    The successful candidate will adopt the terms and conditions of the NIO for the length of their appointment. 
Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post.
FURTHER INFORMATION    Further information about the post may be obtained from the Head of the Financial Accounts Team via e-mail to Rebecca.best@nio.gov.uk.
APPLICATIONS    You can apply for this post through the Civil Service website at: civilservice.gov.uk.  Once logged onto the site go to the civil service jobs page and then search for jobs in the Northern Ireland Office where the application form can be found.

Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered.  Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview.

Home Civil Service applicants who, because of disability, need assistance in completing the application form should contact MoJ Shared Services on 0845 010 3512.

All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.

Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following interview.

Additional Information

Further information about us

We are a small and friendly department of approximately 170 staff.  Due to our size we are able to offer staff more exposure to ministers and the opportunity to work on a far wider portfolio of responsibilities than might be the case in a larger department.  This creates an interesting, though often challenging, work environment.

Other Benefits

The NIO offers a pleasant, modern work environment which allows consideration of a range of flexible working arrangements which support a good work/ life balance. These include flexible/ alternative working patterns, part-time and job-share options.

Benefits include:

               interest-free season ticket and bicycle loans

               Reward & Recognition scheme

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Northern Ireland Office operates the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, details of which are attached to the application form for this post.

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com to be removed from the reserve list. 

Further information on civil service careers can be found at  www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.  

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. 

Please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk) in the first instance.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages:

http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/

https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,868, Northern Ireland Office contributes £10,804 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.